3 flown to hospital after 5 cars collide north of Hillsboro

OSHP: Vehicle went left of center, caused chain reaction

By David Wright - dwright@timesgazette.com

A CareFlight helicopter is shown early Wednesday morning in the Hillsboro Kmart parking lot. Two helicopters landed in the parking lot and one landed at the helipad at Highland District Hospital to transport patients from a car accident, an official said.

Photo courtesy of Jeanne Alexander

Three people were flown to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a five-vehicle accident on SR 73 north of Hillsboro early Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Priest told The Times-Gazette that a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox SUV driven by Casey Waits, 38, Sabina, was headed eastbound on SR 73 near Diven Road when it drove left of center, sideswiped a 2003 Dodge truck driven by Kevin Erwin, 51, Hillsboro, then struck a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Bonita Howard, 58, Hillsboro, head-on before spinning out and coming to rest in the oncoming lane.

The Howard vehicle spun around, flipped over a guardrail and came to rest in an embankment, Priest said.

According to Priest, a westbound 2015 Ford F-250 truck driven by Nicholas Berry, 34, Winchester, halted suddenly to avoid the crash and was struck from behind by a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Michael Seth Meyer, 22, Hillsboro.

Priest said Waits and her sole passenger, Heather Dawn Sheets, 34, Reesville, were flown via CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital, along with Howard.

Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District Public Information Officer Lt. Branden Jackman said two helicopters landed in the Hillsboro Kmart parking lot and one landed at the helipad at Highland District Hospital.

Priest said those at the scene told him the injuries appeared to be non-life-threatening. The trooper said he had no updates on the victims’ conditions Wednesday afternoon.

According to Priest, all the drivers he interviewed said they were driving between 50 and 55 mph.

“The other vehicle that was left of center, I have no idea,” he said. Priest said drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to have been a factor in the accident.

Priest said Waits will be charged with a left-of-center violation. According to Priest, it did not appear as though Waits had her seatbelt on at the time of the accident.

Priest said authorities received a call reporting the accident at 5:41 a.m.

The accident remains under investigation.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570.

A CareFlight helicopter is shown early Wednesday morning in the Hillsboro Kmart parking lot. Two helicopters landed in the parking lot and one landed at the helipad at Highland District Hospital to transport patients from a car accident, an official said.

https://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2018/10/web1_f-careflight-10-24-2018.jpgA CareFlight helicopter is shown early Wednesday morning in the Hillsboro Kmart parking lot. Two helicopters landed in the parking lot and one landed at the helipad at Highland District Hospital to transport patients from a car accident, an official said. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Alexander